Seat back energy absorber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023108769-A1
Application number	US-202117494939-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 6, 2021
Priority date	Oct 6, 2021
Publication date	Apr 6, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A passenger seat for a passenger vehicle including but not limited to an aircraft may include a seat base, a seat back, and an energy absorption system. The energy absorption system is spherically coupled to the seat base and spherically coupled to the seat back, and includes a dampening member and a support assembly. The dampening member is movable relative to the support assembly responsive to a load applied on the seat back such that engagement between the support assembly and the dampening member dampens the load.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat base; a seat back pivotably connected to the seat base; and an energy absorption system spherically coupled to the seat base and spherically coupled to the seat back, the energy absorption system comprising a dampening member and a support assembly, wherein the dampening member is movable relative to the support assembly such that engagement between the support assembly and the dampening member dampens a load on the seat back.

2 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption system is configured to dampen the load and reduce a head impact criteria.

3 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly is on the dampening member such that the dampening member extends through the support assembly, and wherein the dampening member is compressible as the dampening member moves through the support assembly.

4 . The passenger seat of claim 3 , wherein the support assembly is configured to decrease an outer diameter of the dampening member as the dampening member moves through the support assembly.

5 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises a die, and wherein the die comprises a material having a hardness is greater than a hardness of a material of the dampening member.

6 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption system further comprises a stop that provides a maximum movement limit for the dampening member.

7 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly is spherically coupled to the seat base and wherein the dampening member is spherically coupled to the seat back.

8 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the dampening member comprises an elongated rod, wherein the support assembly comprises a die comprising an inner wall defining a central aperture, and wherein the elongated rod at least partially extends through the central aperture of the die such that the die is on the elongated rod.

9 . The passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein the elongated rod is spherically coupled to the seat back and wherein the die is spherically coupled to the seat base.

10 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein the elongated rod comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is spherically coupled to the seat back, wherein the second end comprises a stop, wherein the die is on the elongated rod between the first end. and the second end, and wherein the die is configured to engage the stop on the elongated rod at a maximum movement position of the elongated rod relative to the support assembly.

11 . The passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the rod is hollow, and wherein a wall thickness of the portion of the rod that is hollow is not constant.

12 . The passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein the rod comprises an outer diameter, a first end, and a second end opposite from the first end, and wherein the outer diameter is not constant between the first end and the second end.

13 . The passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein the inner wall of the die is not constant.

14 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises a die spherically coupled to the seat base, and wherein the dampening member comprises:
an elongated rod extending at least partially through the die and movable through the die, the elongated rod comprising a first end spherically coupled to the seat back and a second end opposite from the first end; and a crushable member on the elongated rod between the second end and the die, wherein the crushable member is deformed or crushed as the elongated rod moves through the die.

15 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the dampening member is pulled through the support assembly responsive to the load.

16 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat base; a seat back pivotably connected to the seat base; and an energy absorption system comprising a support assembly and a dampening member movable relative to the support assembly, wherein the support assembly is coupled to the seat base and the dampening member is coupled to the seat back, and wherein the dampening member is configured to selectively engage the support assembly responsive to a load on the seat back to dampen the load.

17 . The passenger seat of claim 16 , wherein the support assembly is spherically coupled to the seat base and the dampening member is spherically coupled to the seat back.

18 . The passenger seat of claim 16 , wherein the dampening member is movable through the support assembly responsive to the load, and wherein the dampening member is configured to selectively engage the support assembly such that the support assembly deforms, compresses, or frictionally engages the dampening member to dampen the load.

19 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat base comprising a forward end and an aft end; a seat back pivotably connected to the seat base, the seat back comprising a top end and a bottom end; and an energy absorption system comprising a support assembly and a dampening member movable relative to and through the support assembly, wherein the dampening member is coupled to the seat back proximate to the bottom end of the seat hack, wherein the support assembly is coupled to the seat base proximate to the aft end of the seat base, wherein the dampening member is movable relative to and through the support assembly responsive to a load on the seat back, and wherein movement of the dampening member through the support assembly dampens the load.

20 . The passenger seat of claim 19 , wherein the support assembly is spherically coupled to the seat base and the dampening member is spherically coupled to the seat back, and wherein at least one of an outer diameter of the dampening member, a diameter of a central aperture of the support assembly, or a wall thickness of the dampening member is not constant.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Madrid Nahum
• Livingston Solomon
• Salcedo Francisco
• Stewart Christopher
• Waters Kevin

Classifications

• B64D11/0619

  with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash · CPC title

• B60N2/4214

  longitudinal · CPC title

• B60N2/22

  the back-rest being adjustable {(B60N2/2878 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2205/30

  Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces · CPC title

• B60N2/42 Primary

  the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats (for protecting children B60N2/26; arm-rests B60N2/75; head-rests B60N2/888) · CPC title